The gaming giant surpasses forecasts with a strong Q2 performance, largely credited to the booming success of EA SPORTS FC 24.
EA released its preliminary figures for the second quarter ending September 30, 2023, with a notable boost in net bookings, largely driven by the launch of EA SPORTS FC 24.
Andrew Wilson, CEO of EA, remarked on the successful quarter saying, “We launched EA SPORTS FC 24 to a rousing success, morphing one of the world’s biggest franchises into an engaging, futuristic platform for football enthusiasts. This marks a robust Q2 for us. As we move forward, our remarkable teams are all set to broaden our top-notch IP, crafting experiences that not only entertain our vast online communities but also foster fandom and deepen the engagement with our ever-expanding global player base.”
The Q2 data reveals:
- Net bookings for the quarter stood at $1.820 billion, marking a 4% increase compared to the previous year.
- Live services such as Ultimate Team contributed $1.129 billion to the bookings, registering a 1% growth year-over-year. Over the last year, live services constituted 73% of EA’s business.
- Platform earnings breakdown: $1.15B Console, $389M PC, and $279M Mobile.
- Total net bookings for the past 12 months amount to a staggering $7.7B.
A standout performer this quarter was the EA SPORTS global football franchise, particularly driven by the sustained success of EA SPORTS FIFA 23 and the highly anticipated release of EA SPORTS FC 24. Within the first month of its global launch, FC 24 amassed over 14.5 million active accounts, showcasing a promising start for this new addition to the EA SPORTS lineup.
Stuart Canfield, CFO of EA, echoed the positive sentiment, “The strength of EA SPORTS, propelled by new releases and sustained live services, led to a Q2 performance that surpassed expectations. Our focus remains on serving our growing player communities, maintaining momentum across our portfolio, and channeling investments towards our biggest opportunities to fuel long-term growth.”
The flourishing launch of FC 24 has not only contributed to EA’s strong financial performance this quarter but has also reinforced the company’s vision of innovating and expanding its interactive offerings to the global gaming community.
